Method of and apparatus for bending tubes



. A. VASSELLI.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING TUBES.

21. 2 SHEETS-SH Patented Mar.

\IIHHHI 1:

IIIAIIIII/ VIIIIIIIIII/tlllll APPLICATION FILED MAY 5,

A. VASSEL'LI.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, i919- I Patented Mar. 1 1921.,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Y .Znvenior and cheap apparatus composed of ANTHONYVASSELLI, 6F NEWARK, NEW EEBSEY, ASSIGNQR, BY ME$NE ASSIGN- MEETS, T0HABEIMAN NATIQNALBANK GE THE CITY OF NEW YQRK, TRUSTEE.

HZETHGD Q1 AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING- TUBES.

specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Mar. fr, 1%21.

Application filed May 5, 1919. Serial Ito. 294,705.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that-I, ANTHONY VASSELLI, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the cit of Newark,county of Essex, and State of iiew Jersey, have invented a certain newand useful Method of and Apparatus' for Bending Tubes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to the bending of tubes for any use, and morearticularly to the bending of tubes for use in manufacturing tone-armsfor talking machines and the like.

The objects of my invention are the production of a method of andapparatus for the bending of tubes by the employment of a rigid andunbending core for preventing collapsing of the tubes, to produce asimple, few parts, of strong and rugged construction, which will noteasily get out of order, and which may be operated by the simplest formsof machinery.

A further object is to provide an apparatus wherein tubes may be bentwithout the formation of wrinkles or cracks on the interior or outersurface of the tubes.

A further object is to provide a simple,

cheap and effective process of and apparatus forbending tubes, wherebythe operations may be expeditiously carried out and waste eliminated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means of thecharacter herein described, which are simple in operation andconstruction, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in its purpose andoperation, and inex ensive and economical to manufacture.

ith these and other objects in view to be more fully set forthhereinafter, the invention consists in the novel construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the operation and construction hereinafter described inthe specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawingsconsidered to ether or separately.

he inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety ofm'echanical expressions, one of which for the purpose of illustratingthe invention, is shown in the accompanying drawings.

The invention will be first described in connection with theaccompanying drawings, illustrating one embodiment of the invention,wherein similar reference characters are used to designate correspondingparts throughout the several Views, and then more specifically definedand indicated in the ap pended claims. I

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of an apparatus for carryingout my invention, the section being taken on the line indicated by 1-1in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the device;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a further step in theprocess;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing further step;

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation showing a core member removed from theapparatus otfter the completion of the bending operaion;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the two core members in position toperform the bending operation, the section being taken on the lineindicated b 6-6 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a detail si e elevation of a portion of the reciprocating coremember.

a still a relatively stationary mandrel or core member 1 andreciprocating mandrel or core member 2. The member 2 is preferablyarranged toreciprocate vertically, and the axis of the member 1 is setat an angle to the axis of the member 2.

The member 1 is straight in its axial dimension, and of the crosssectional area and shape of the bore of the tube to be bent, and iscarried on and forms part of a plate or head 3. The member 1 is providedwith a shoulder 4 of the cross sectional area and shape of the outsideof the tube to be bent. The member 1 is positioned between a pair of diemembers 5 and 6, each of which is provided with a recess which, when thedie members are placed side by side with the portions of the opening.The shoulder 4- and retain the core member in position removed from thewall of the opening a distance equal to the thickness of the tube to bebent. The member 1 is ofsuch a length that its extremity 7 will beseparated from the wall of the opening beyond the bend in the opening.That portion of the member 1 which is in opposition to outer wall of thebend of the opening is curved on the are of a circle struck from thesame point as is the arc of the outer wall of the opening but of aradius less than the radius of the wall by a distance equal to thethickness of the material of the tube to be bent. In other words allportions of the member 1 are separated from the walls of the opening bya distance which will permit the tube to pass between the member and thewalls.

The core member 2 is of cylindrical cross section. as is shown in thedrawings, and is carriel by the reciprocating head 8 of an ordinarypunch press. The diameter of the member 2 is the same. as that of thebore of the tube to be bent.

Carried by a plate 8 on the head 8 is a hollow punch core member 2, ofthe same cross sectional area as the tube to be bent. The core memberextends through the hollow punch member and into a recess 10 in the head8 and is backed by a heavy spring 11 whereby the core member may bemoved relatively to the hollow punch member and head in the directionlongitudinally of the member 2. The core member 2 is provided with alongitudinalslot or key way 12 which is engaged by the extremity of aset screw 13 carried by the head 8, to prevent rotation. of the member 2but permit of its longitudinal movement relatively to the head.

The lower extremity of the member 2 is bev'eled, and the bevel face 14is at the same angle sothat the die member 1 is positioned member 1.

to the axial plane of the member 2. p

The beveled end of the member 2 is concaved, as shown, and the radius ofthe con-. cavity is e ual to the radius ofthe core Whenthe members 1 and2 are in operative position, the concave end of the member 2 will fitover that portion of the member 1 which is beneath the member 2 and asolid angular structure will be formed in the die and separated from thewall thereof a distance equal to the thickness of the tube to be bent.

The angle which the leg 15 of the die opening 56 bears to the leg 16 ofthe opening determines the angle of the bend to be made. Bends ofvarious degrees may be made,it being understood that difiere'nt core anddie members must be employed for eachpar- Each of the die members maybeprovidedwith a semi-circular recess which, when the member 9whichsurrounds the sired.

members are in place, will form a cylindrical socket 17 for thereception of a guide 18 having a bore equal in diameter to the outsideof the tube to be bent.

The'operation is as follows: The die members 5' and 6 are 'gether withtheir recessed faces in conjunction. The core member 1 is placed inposi-v tion in the leg 16 of the die opening with the plate 3 restingagainst the ends of both die members. The plate 3 and the shoulder 4will so position the member 1 that no portion of its surface will touchthe wall of the "/0 brought to' die opening; The guide tube 18 ispositioned inthe socket 17 and the die, as a whole, is placedon thetable 19 of a punch press, for example. The die is held in position onthe table by any suitable means, such as the vise members shown.

A plate 8 carrying a tubular punch member '9 of the same size as thetube to be bent, is secured to the lower face of the press head 8 of themachine. A.- core member 2 of the same diameter as the member 1 isplaced within the punch 9 with its upper end resting against. the spring11, and the screw 13 is inserted in the slot 12, to prevent rotation ofthe member 2. w

. A short section 20 of the tube to be bent is placed with the die, withits lower end resting between the extremity of the member 1 and wall ofthe die opening. The end of the section 20 is preferably beveled, asshown, but it may be cut off square if de- The die is positioned withthe leg 15 of the die opening in axial alinement with the 'member'2.Power is applied to the head '8.

The member 2 is moved downward into the section 20'until the lower endof the member 2 engages the member 1. The continued movement of the headwill compress the spring, and the punch 9 will engage the unoerend ofthe section 20 and force it around the blend in the die opening. The

beveled end elf the section will cause the first part ofthe bendingoperation to take place on the outside of the. elbow, and the sectionwillbe forcled to the position shown in" he head will be raisedwithdrawing the gunch 9 and the member- 2 from the die. he latter willbe, removed from the table and the parts thereof separated, releasingthe member 1 with the bent section there- 'on. The bent section may thenbe removed from the member in any desired manner, the bevel end cutoil,- and the operation above described repeated. Y

With a device of the character hereinbefor described, I. bend tubesvrapidly, without any wrinkles on any surfaces and without the employmentof any skilled labor.

In accordance with the provisions of the Y patent statute, I havedescribed the princi- .nevoma ple of my invention together with theapparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof,but I desire it understood that my invention is not confined to theparticular form of apparatus herein shown and described. the same beingmerely illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out in otherways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore,1 claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalitiescoming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of whichobjects of my invention are attained, and the new results accomplished,as herein set forth, as it is obvious that the particular embodimentherein shown and described is only one of many that can be employed toattain these objects and accomplish these results.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. The method of bending tubes, which comprisesforcing the tube over a core composed of two rigid stationary coremembers arranged at an angle to each other, and removing the membersfrom opposite ends of the bent tube.

2. The method of bending tubes, which comprises forcing the tube over acore composed of two rigid stationary core members arranged at an angleto each other, and removing the members from opposite ends of the benttube, each in a straight line.

3. The method of bending tubes, which comprises forcing the tube over acore composed of two straight rigid stationary core members arranged atan angle to each other, and removing the members from opposite ends ofthe bent tube.

4. The method of bending tubes, which comprises forcing the tube over acore composed of two straight rigid stationary-core members arrangedat-an angle to each other, and removing the members from opposite endsof the bent tube, each in a straight line.

5. The process of bending tubes, which comprises forcing the tube over acore comprising a plurality of rigid core members arranged at an angleto each other, said core members defining the bend of the tube andfilling the interior thereof, withdrawing one member from the elbow thusformed in the direction of the axis of one leg of the elbow, andwithdrawing the other member from the elbow in the direction of theother axisv of the elbow.

6. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a die having-anopening therein, said opening being of the shape of the bend desired, aseparable rigid core member extending through the opening from end toend thereof, and means for forcing a tube into the opening, around thebend and changing its direction of travel by contact with the member.

7. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a die having anopening therein, said opening being of the shape of the bend desired, arigid core comprising a plurality of core members extending into theopening and means for forcing a tube into the opening and changing itsdirection of travel by contact with the members.

8. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a die having anopening therein, said opening being of the shape of the bend desired, arigid core member extending into the opening from one end thereof, asecond core member extending into the opening from the other endthereof, said members being arranged at an angle to each other, meansfor forcing a tube into the opening between the wall thereof and thecore members whereby the tube will be bent to conform to the angularityof the core members, and means for withdrawing the core members from thetube.

9. An apparatus of the class described,

comprising a die having an opening therein, said opening being of theshape of the bend desired,'a rigid core member extending into the openinfrom one end thereof, a second core mem er extending into the openingfrom the other end thereof, said members being arranged at anangle toeach other, means for forcing a tube into the opening between the wallthereof and the core members whereby the tube will be bent to conform tothe an larity of the core members, and means or withdrawing the coremembers in opposite directions from the tube.

10. An apparatus of the. class described, comprising a die having anopening therein, said opening being of the shape of the bend desired, arigid core member extending into the opening from one end thereof, asecond core member extending into the opening from the other endthereof, said members being arranged at an angle to each other, atubular element surrounding one of the core members for forcing a tubeinto the opening between the wall thereof and the core members wherebythe tube will be bent to conform to the angularity of the.

core members, and means for withdrawing the core members from the tube.

11. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a die having anopening therein, said opening being of the shape of the bend desired, arigid core member. extending intothe opening from one end thereof, asecond core member extending into the opening from the other endthereof, said members bein arranged at an angle to each other, a tu ularelement surrounding one of the from end to end thereof. and.

core members being so proportioned and ar-v core members for forcing atube into the opening between the wall thereof and the 4 core memberswhereby the tube will be bent to conform to the an ularity of the coremembers, and means or withdrawing the core members in oppositedirections from the tube.

12. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a die havin anopening therein, said opening being of t e shape of the bend desired, arigid core member extending into the opening from one end thereof, asecond rigid core member'extending into the openranged that each may beremoved from the tube by movement in a straight line.

13. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a die having anopening therein,

said opening being of the shape of the bend desired, a rigid core memberextending into the opening from one end thereof, a second rigid coremember extending into the opening from the other end thereof, saidmembers being arranged at an angle to each other, the end of one memberbeing formed at an angle to correspond with the angularity of the othermember, said end being formed tofit the periphery of the said othermember, means for forcing a tube into the opening between the wallthereof and the core "members whereby the tube will be bent to conformto the angularity of the core members, means whereby the tubular elementmay be removed from the die, the said core members being so proportionedand arran ed that each may be removed from the tu e by movement in astraight line.

This specification signed and witnessed this 18th day of April, 1919.

ANTHONY VASSELLT Witnesses:

JOHN L. LOTSCI-I, M. JONES.

